Causes of the Civil War by Kyron Mahr

Election of Abraham Lincoln

mahrkyr — 2025-04-15 14:18:40 UTC

Abraham Lincoln's election as president on an anti-slavery platform in 1860 triggered the secession of several Southern states, leading to the outbreak of war.

The Dred Scott v. Sandford Decision

mahrkyr — 2025-04-15 14:24:24 UTC

The Supreme Court's ruling in the Dred Scott case in 1857 further exacerbated tensions by declaring that enslaved people were not citizens and could not sue in federal court, and also by stating that Congress could not prohibit slavery in any U.S. territory

Political Compromises and the Missouri Compromise

mahrkyr — 2025-04-15 14:26:02 UTC

The nation attempted to address the slavery issue through compromises like the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850, but these attempts ultimately failed to resolve the underlying divisions.

Westward Expansion and the Kansas-Nebraska Act

mahrkyr — 2025-04-15 14:27:47 UTC

As the nation expanded westward, the question of slavery in new territories became increasingly contentious. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed residents of Kansas and Nebraska to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty, leading to violent clashes between pro- and anti-slavery factions.

Economic Disparities

mahrkyr — 2025-04-15 14:29:20 UTC

The Southern economy was heavily reliant on agriculture and slave labor, while the Northern economy was more industrialized and diversified. These differences led to conflicting economic policies and a lack of understanding between the two regions.

States' Rights vs. Federal Power

mahrkyr — 2025-04-15 14:30:27 UTC

Southern states, particularly those reliant on slave labor, strongly advocated for states' rights, arguing that the federal government should not interfere with their internal affairs, including the issue of slavery. This clashed with the growing power of the federal government and the desire for national unity.

Slavery

mahrkyr — 2025-04-15 14:31:24 UTC

The institution of slavery, deeply ingrained in the Southern economy and way of life, was a major point of contention. As the nation expanded westward, the question of whether new states would be free or slave further inflamed tensions.

Moral Opposition

mahrkyr — 2025-04-15 14:34:41 UTC

The abolitionist movement gained momentum in the North, raising moral objections to the institution of slavery and advocating for its eradication.

Abolitionism

mahrkyr — 2025-04-16 14:01:34 UTC

The growing abolitionist movement in the North further fueled the debate over slavery and galvanized opposition to the institution.

Fort Sumter

mahrkyr — 2025-04-16 14:02:48 UTC

The Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861 marked the beginning of the Civil War

Infrastructure

mahrkyr — 2025-04-16 14:05:20 UTC

The North had a better infrastructure, including railroads and canals, compared to the South, which hampered its economic development.

Trade Tariffs

mahrkyr — 2025-04-16 14:07:34 UTC

The North favored tariffs on imported goods to protect its industries, while the South, which relied on exporting agricultural goods, opposed them as they raised the price of manufactured goods.

John Brown's Raid

mahrkyr — 2025-04-16 14:07:37 UTC

This raid on a federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry, intended to incite a slave revolt, was seen by many Southerners as further evidence of Northern hostility towards the institution of slavery and contributed to the growing sense of unease and fear in the South.

trade tariffs

mahrkyr — 2025-04-16 14:11:10 UTC

Tensions between the North and the South had begun due to other issues such as bitter debates about Federal tariffs and infrastructure.

Fort Sumter

mahrkyr — 2025-04-16 14:12:43 UTC

The Civil War began at 4:30 am on April 12, 1861 at Ft. Sumter, Charleston, SC. Confederate gunners fired on Ft. Sumter in Charleston

The Dred Scott v. Sandford Decision

mahrkyr — 2025-04-16 14:16:49 UTC

Dred Scott was a slave who sued for his freedom